Disclaimer: Actually, I'm really Peter Jackson in disguise and I do…heh. Can't resist that little bit of sarcasm. No, don't own anything, never have, never will. Moving on…
Chapter Two: Captive
I stood in silence, hardly daring to breathe. Adrenaline rushed through my body and my heart pounded in my ears. I carefully regarded my captors. The one on my left was fair-haired and tall and had what appeared to be the temperament of a drenched cat. His mouth was set in a firm line, his brow furrowed, giving me the impression that he would not hesitate to shoot me, if given the chance. His clothing appeared to be of some medieval era and his hair was unusually long for a man, falling slightly past his shoulders. The odd part was that it looked like he actually brushed it. His ears, I noticed, were rather misshapen and somewhat pointed, reminiscent of the Vulcans from Star Trek. The other man who stood on my right was somewhat shorter than the other, but equally blonde and groomed. However, his disposition seemed more agreeable then the other and he appeared to possess an inner calmness that his companion lacked. Like the first one, he was clad in clothing that had probably been very hip in the twelfth century. I noted with slight fear, that his ears were also strangely shaped.
The most logical conclusion I could arrive at was that they were either hippy die-hard Trekkies who had just robbed a Renaissance Fair or complete lunatics. Either way, it didn't look good for me.
"Who are you?" I finally managed, my knees trembling in fear. I could almost hear nature hold its breath in the silence, waiting.
"I believe that is the question we are entitled to ask, as you happen to be trespassing," snapped the first one. They did not lower their bows.
"Excuse me?" I demanded, placing a hand on my hip for emphasis. While I was well aware of the danger I was in, I did not take kindly to a tight-wearing man of doubtful sanity telling me to get off my own property.
"These are dark times," interjected the other. "Strangers can no longer wander freely in the realm of Lord Elrond."
"You must be mistaken," I replied, feeling slightly more unnerved than before. "This land belongs to my aunt." The two men exchanged glances.
"I'm going to have to ask you to come with us," the first one requested gruffly. My mouth dropped open and I exhaled sharply.
"Not to be rude, but what are you smoking?" I countered, trying to keep my voice from quavering. I was completely terrified now, all the murders, rapes, and abductions on the news seeming incredibly real and all the more petrifying now that I was in a similar situation. "There is no way that I'm going anywhere with two psychos who are desperately out of touch with reality—"
The creak of their bows silenced me.
"I will only ask once more," the first one warned seriously, his eyes narrowed.
I swallowed. "Alright," I submitted, hoping that I could buy myself some time and escape before they tried to hurt me.
The man on my right lowered his bow and motioned for me to follow him. I meekly stepped forward and trailed after him while the other continued after me, his arrow aimed at my back, a constant reminder of my predicament.
My thoughts raced as we continued through the trees, my heart beating about a million times a minute. The wind whipped through the trees, carrying faint whispers and warnings in a language that was unfamiliar to me. I shuddered slightly and kneaded my ears with my knuckles.
Keep yourself together, I thought quietly to myself. Hearing things would definitely not help my situation—I had to stay sharp. The voices continued, despite my attempts at silencing them. I began to panic, nearly jumping out of my skin when a twig cracked beneath the sole of my shoe. The strange words on the wind coupled with my current state of captivity brought me to a level of intense anxiety and fear that I had never experienced before. My foot caught under a lone root and I stumbled and fell to the ground. The forest floor suddenly pitched violently beneath me and I leaned forward and vomited.
Once I had finished emptying out the contents of my stomach, I leaned backwards and collapsed. The dizzying relief that accompanies the cessation of nausea flooded my senses and the voices quieted for a moment, reduced to a barely audible whisper. The relaxed feeling quickly abated as one of the men approached me. My heartbeat escalated and my hands began to tremble. I drew my knees toward my chest, observing him fearfully.
"Please don't hurt me," I implored him, my voice low and croaky. He knelt down beside me and pressed a handkerchief into my hand.
"We have no intention of harming you," he said calmly. "Lord Elrond is just. You will be treated fairly." I regarded him quietly. Lord Elrond…where had I heard that name before? I shook that thought out of my head and wiped my mouth with the handkerchief. He appeared less intimidating than he had been a few moments ago—but would I be able to trust him? I stared quietly at the ground, realizing that I had no other choice. I gave a tentative nod, still wary about the whole situation.
"Drink this." The other had lowered his bow and handed a silver flask to me. I looked at it suspiciously.
"We mean you no harm," the first one repeated. I must have still looked uneasy because he gave a small sigh, took the flask from me, and took a generous mouthful of the liquid inside, swallowing purposely. I nodded as the flask was passed back into my hands and took a small sip. The liquid was cool and soothing against my throat, the sweet flavor completely eliminating the bitter taste that lingered in my mouth. I allowed myself a few more swallows before returning the flask. I rose to my feet, my knees still shaking slightly.
"Thank you," I managed, drawing in a deep breath.
The kind one smiled as he stood up. The other raised his bow.
"Precautions," he explained gruffly. "It's required." I nodded slightly and continued after the other, resuming our original course.
An eerie silence fell over the forest, the strange whispers oddly quiet. The sounds of leaves and twigs rustling underneath my feet seemed thunderous in the stillness. I became skittish, feeling as though someone or something was watching me. In effort to ease my apprehension, I allowed my mind to wander.
Lord Elrond…the name echoed throughout my mind. I had heard it somewhere before and it was nagging at me incessantly. As I racked my brain for answers, the trees suddenly gave way and I found myself face-to-face with the end of a huge cliff. I stumbled backwards. The rush I felt as I stared down into the river below was enough to make my knees shake. I looked in quiet awe at the scenery that surrounded me. Rushing waterfalls spilled out of the cliff faces, landing with a whisper into the river below. Trees and other vegetation crowded the hills beyond the cliffs, creating a beautiful emerald carpet that stretched lazily out into the distance. The soft breeze carried a delightful earthy smell mingled with the scent of flowers and pine. It was so incredibly beautiful, giving the illusion that Mother Nature herself had blessed the place with ethereal beauty.
It suddenly became very clear to me that I was no longer anywhere near my home. It was easier to ignore when I was walking in the forest; after all, there had been portions of the land that I had not yet explored. But I knew fully well that there was not the slightest possible chance that we had a river valley complete with waterfalls in the backyard that I had neglected to notice.
I frantically searched the surrounding landscape, looking for a familiar landmark that would indicate where home lay. Instead, they fell upon an architectural splendor. In simplest terms, it was a gazebo on steroids, with many breezeways and trellised rooms, twining around the cliff. The detail and intricacy was incredible, far too perfect to be made by human hands. It was the epitome of perfection, a divine structure so flawlessly beautiful, that words will never do it proper justice.
"What is this place?" I asked finally, my eyes wide in both wonder and fear.
"This is Rivendell."